Elevator door locking mechanism



Oct. 20, 1931. cHAPlN 1,828,316

ELEVATOR DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM Filed March 21, 1929 3 Sheets$heet 1 b I "2.75 f INVE/v 7'02 Fen 7 00 Q Chap/ 0. 3y I 4/ ,1

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F. G. CHAPIN ELEVATOR DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM Filed March 21, 1929 1.931- F. G. CHAPIN 1,828, 16

ELEVATOR DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM Filed March 21, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOE flTfOENEY I Fen on 6;. Chap/0.} g .1 Jjy Patented Oct. 20, 1931 rnnron G. cams, on msrfs'r. Louis, ILLINOIS ELEVATOR DOOR LQCkING MECHANISM Application filed March 21, 1929. Serial No. 348,826.

This invention relates to elevators door locking mechanisms of thetype that CO]I1' prise an electrically-operated meansfor preventlng an elevator shaft door from'bemg opened unless the floor of the elevator car is approximately level with the $111 of the provide an elevator shaft door locking mechanism of the general type referred to, which is of such construcion that a shaft door located at a floor at which the elevator car is standing cannot be opened by a person located on the outside of the shaft unless the operator in charge of the elevator'car Inanipulates or actuates a controlling device.

Another object is to provide an elevator shaft door locking mechanism of the general 1 type mentioned, that is equipped with anov el means for actuating a switch arrangedin the electric circuit that energizes the medianism used to operate the car so as to prevent the car from being started unless the shaft door located at the floor at which the caris standing is fully closed.

And still another object is to provide a shiftable switch operating member adapted to be mounted on an elevator car for cooperating with switches located at floors past which the car travels, and equipped witha novel means for accurately controlling the position of and absorbing the shock on said switch operating member'when it 'i's moved into a position to engage a switch with which it co-operates.

I have herein illustrated my present invention embodied in an electrically-operated,

elevator door locking mechanism of the general construction described in my prior U. S.

Patent No. 1,619,596, dated March 1, 1927 but I wish it to be understood that my present invention is not limited to use with an elevator door locking mechanism equipped with parts of the particular construction and arrangement shown in said patent.

Figure :1 of the drawings is a perspective view, illustratin r my invention applied to a horizontally sliding elevator shaft door.

-Fig'ure 2 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale, illustrating the door latch, the electrically-operated device that normally holds said latch in en agement with the memher on the door witi which it co-operates,oc and theswitch. in the energizing circuit of the elevator car operating means that preventsthe car frombeing started unless the shaft door at the floor at which the car is standing is fully closed.

Figure 3 is a detail View, illustrating how the elementon the plunger of the switch shownin Figure 2 that co-acts with the contacts ofthe switch is capable of rotating or turning relatively to the part that actuates the plunger so as to insure said element bearingtightly against the contacts, when the, plungeris moved in a direction to close the circuit inwhich the switch is arranged.

Fi ure 4 is a View, similar to Figure 2, 7 showing the position which the parts of the structure assume during the operation ofv opening the door.

Figure 5 is a view, partly in vertical section, of one of the switches with which the switch operating member on the elevator car co-acts to close the circuit of the electrically-operated actuating means for the locking device that co-acts with the latch.

Figure 6 is a View, illustrating the foot operated plunger on the elevator car that governs the switch-operating member on the car. I

Figure 7 is a view, similar to Figure 6, but partly in section, illustrating the switch shown in Figure 6 in its closed position.

' Figure '8. is a side elevational View, illustrating the switch operating member on the elevator car and the electro-magnet that is used to actuate said member.

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view,taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a wiring diagram, illustrating my improved shaft door locking mechanism applied to an elevator shaft structure 1 in which the elevator car is equipped with a door; and

Figure 11 is a wiring diagram, illustrating a similar structure, except that the switc 6 on the elevator car that co-acts with the floor switches, consists of a foot operated switch of the kind shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates an elevator car that moves vertically in an elevator shaft, and B designates doors located at the respective floors past which the car A travels, that are normally closed so as to cut off communication between said floors and the interior of said shaft. The doors B located at the respective floors vare of similar construction and each of said doors is equipped with a member 1 attached to the top edge of same and arranged so that when the door is in its closed position, a notch or recess 1 in said member 1 will receive a roller that forms part of a latch C that is reciprocatingly mounted in a housing 2 connected to a suitable stationary supporting 2 structure inside of the elevator shaft, the latch C being equipped with a spring 3 that exerts pressure on said latch in a direction tending to hold the roller 3 of the latch in engagement with the member 1 on the door.- The latch C is normally held locked or in such a position that it cannot be disengaged from the member 1 on the door by a locking device D formed by a lever or arm pivotally mounted at 4 inside of the housing 2 and combined with a spring 5 that normally exerts pressure on the locking device D in a direction tending to hold the lower end of said locking device in engagement with a notch or shoulder C on the latch C.

The lockin device D is rendered inoperative or moved in a direction to disengage it from the shoulder C on the latch C by an electrically-operated actuating means E consisting of an electro-magnet mounted inside -of the housing 2 and arranged in an electric circuit whose conductors to are connected to a switch desi ated by the reference character F in igure 1, that is stationarily mounted inside of the elevator shaft adjacent to the housing 2 previously described,

each of the floors past which the elevator car A travels being equipped with a switch F and also with a housing 2 containing a latch C, a locking device D and an electrically-operated actuating means E of the kind previously described.

In order that a shaft door B may be opened only when the floor of the elevator car is at approximately the same level as the sill of 69 the opening in the shaft which said door closes, the elevator car A is provided with a shiftable switch operating member G, shown in Figure 1. Said switch operating member G is normally maintained in an inactive osition, so that it will not contact with or strlke against the operating members 6 of the switches F located at the floors past which the car travels, and means under control of the operator in charge of the elevator car is provided for enabling said switch operating member G to be arranged in an active or op erative position, wherein it will co-act with the operating member 6 of the switch F located at the floor at which the elevator car is to be stopped, so as to close the circuit of the electrica ly-operated actuating means I11, and thus cause the locking device D located at that particular floor to be rendered inoperative or moved into a position to release the latch C with which it co-operates, therevby permitting the shaft door B located at that articular floor to be manually opened by sliding it in a direction to cause the roller 3 on the latch C to ride u )wardly out of the notch in the member 1 on the door, onto a cam surface 1" on said member 1, as shown in Figure 4. In the form of my invention herein illustrated the switch operating member G, previously referred to, is constructed in the form of a vertically-disposed shoe carried by a pair of swinging levers 7 that are pivotally mounted on a housing 8 on the elevator car A that encases an electro-magnet H, which, when energized, causes the levers 7 to swing into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 8, and thus arrange the shoe or switch operating member G in such a position that it will co-act with or strike against the operat ing member 6 of the floor switch F that is associated with the shaft door which it is de sired to release or unlock. The lovers 7 are joined together at one end by the shoe G and the opposite ends of said lever are joined together by a bar 9 that forms the armature of the electro-magnet H, said bar 9 being combined with a spring 10 that exerts pressure on said bar in a direction tending to hold the levers 7 and switch operating member or shoe G in the position shown in full lines in Figure 8. Accordingly, as soon as the encrgizing circuit of the magnet H is opened, the shoe or switch operating member G will move automatically back to its normal inactive position shown in full lines in Figure 8. In order that the shoe G may be accurately adjusted with relation to the operating memher 6 of the floor switches F, and in order to prevent the bar 9 from being subjected to a sudden shock or jar, when it is attracted or actuated by the magnet H, said bar 9 is provided at its lower end with a yielding butler 11 that strikes against an adjustable stop 12 mounted in the bottom of the housing 8, as shown clearly in Figure 8, the yielding buffer 11 consisting of a pivotally mounted member at the lower end of the bar 9 that is backed up by a spring 11, as shown in Figure 9. By changing the elevation of the stop or abutment 12, the distance which the shoe G moves outwardly when the magnet H is energized 3 of the car.

can be accurately controlled,-therebymakin it possible to accurately I with relation to'the switchesF located at the floors past which the elevator car travels. T

The elcctro-magnet H or other means that is used to move the switch operating member G into inoperative position is gove rned'by switch or any suitable kind on the elevator car 21, under control of the operator in charge In instances where theelevator car is equipped with asliding door designated by the reference character B ure 10, a switch 13 can be combined with said door B in such a way that whenthe door is opened, said switch 13 will bemoved into its closed position, so as to close the circuit that energizesthe magnet H that forms the opera-ting means for the shoe G. In instances where the e evator car is not equipped with door, a manually-operable switch,'such, for

example, as a foot-operated switch 1 1 of the plunger type can be used to control the magnet Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings illustrate root operated plunger type switch that I prefer to use for controlling the circuit in which the magnet H is. arranged. Said switch 1% is equipped with a plunger that carries an element 16 which is adaptedto more into engagement with contacts 17 located in the energizing circuit of'themagnet H when said plunger is depressed by exerting downward pressure on ranged at the upper end of said plunger; The foot piece 18 is capable of moving longitudinally relatively to the plunger, 15, and two expansion springs 19 with'the plunger 15 and with the foot piece 18 in such a manner that they will cause the element 16'to beseparated from the contacts 17 with a quick break, and thus. prevent arcing, when the operator removes his foot from the foot piece 18. As shown in Figure 7, the spring 19 is arranged between the foot piece 18 and the housing 20 of the switch. The spring 19 is arranged between the upper end of the plunger 15 and a stop screw.

19 mounted in the extreme upper end of the plunger 15. Normally, the expansive force of the springs 19 and-19 hold the plunger 15 in an elevated position and hold the foot piece 18 in such position that the cap or top portion of said foot piece-is spaced away from the stop screw 19 'in the upper end 01"? the plunger. WVhen' the foot piece 18 is depressed, the plunger 15 moves downwardly into such position that the element 16 thereon will press tightly against the contacts 17. and when a notch 15 in said plunger moves into alignment with a spring-pressed retaining device 21 that is mounted in the switch housing, said retaining device will snap into the notch 15, as shown in Figure 7. "When the operator removes his footfrom the foot piece 18, said foot piece'moves up" adjust the shoe (1' in Figa. foot piece 18 ar-- and 19 are combined wardly relatively to the expansive force of the 15 being temporarily taining device 21, 'When the foot piece 18 moves upwardly relatively to the plunger.

15, the tension of the spring 19 is increased, with the result that a quick upward'stroke will. be imparted to the plunger 15 after the combined force of'the springs 19 and 19 becomes great enough to overcome the force that the retaining device 21 exerts on the plunger, thereby causing the element 16 on the plunger to be separated from the contacts 17 with a quick break, or in such a way that arcing is eliminated. The housing 20 of the switch is provided with a guideway for the plunger 15 and said guideway is provided at one side with a relatively wide,

movable contact 16 and the stationary contacts 17 of the switch, even after the switch has been in use for a long period. The element 16 on the plunger is preferably made substantially wedge-shaped in general outline,'and the contacts 17 with which it co operates are arranged in spaced relation, as shown in Figure6, and backed up by springs 17" in such a way that when the plunger 15 is depressed, the element 16 will exert a wedging action on the contacts 17 and spread them apart, with the result that the tension of the spring 17 will be increased, thereby causing the contacts 17 to be pressed tightly against the element 16.

The floor switches F, previously referred to, may be of any preferred type, but they are preferably of. the same general design as the foot-operated switch 14 just described and comprise a plunger 15 provided with an element 16 of substantially wedge shape in general outline that is adaptedito be forced between a pair of yielding or spring-pressed contacts 17, as shown inFigure 5. The operating member 6 of each of the floor switches F consists of a lever pivotally connected at 6 to the housing of the switch and provided with a roller 6 that constitutes a striking surface on which the shoe G acts. Said lever 6 is normally held in an extended position. as shown in Figure 5, by means of a spring 22, and at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends of said lever is a laterally-projecting arm 23, whose end is positioned'ina slot plunger 15 under the spring 19, the plunger held at rest by the .re-.

24 in the plunger 15 of the switch. When the.

lever 6 is moved inwardly, due to the engagement of the shoe G with the roller 6 on the lever, the plunger 15 will move upwardly far enough to cause the element 16 on said plunger to move into engagement with the contacts 17. The slot 24 in the plunger that reoei'ves the end of the arm 19 is made of such width or is so proportioned that the plan er i can rotate or turn slightly in the tubular bearing 25 on the switch housing in which it slides, so as to insure the element 16 on the plunger bearing tightly against the contacts 17, even though said element 16 and contacts 5 17 have become worn, or even though they are not in exact alignment with each other.

In order to prevent the elevator car A from being started when the shaft door B is open or in a partly open position, the locking mechao anisms associated with the shaft doors located at the respective floors are equipped with switches I arranged in the energizing circuit of the operating means for the elevator car, and combined with switch operating 28 devices 26, which, in turn, are interlocked with or connected with the locking devices D that normally hold the latches C in their operative position. As shown in Figures 2 and touch of the housings 2 is equipped with a $01 switch I which is preferably a plunger type switch of the same general design as the footoperated switch 14 on the elevator car and the floor switches F, previously described. The

plunger 15 of the switch I has an elongated 88: slot in same that receives one end of a lever 26, which is narrower or of less width than said slot. The lever 26 is pivotally connected Bt-Qfi to the housing 2 and is provided with an arm 27 that is pivotall connected to a rod 5 28 which is fastened to t e lower end of the locking device D. When the magnet E is energized to move the locking device D into its inoperative position, and thus release the latch C, the lever 26 moves in a direction to disenaaf gage the element 16 on the plunger 15 of the switch I from its co-operating contacts 17, thereby causing the electric circuit of the operating mechanism for the elevator car to be opened. This movement of the locking deioi vice D, i. e., movement in a direction to release the latch C, causes a spring-pressed retaining device 29 to snap into engagement with a notch 30 in the rod 28, due to the downward force that is exerted on said retaining device 29 by an expansion spring 31 which is interbetween a head piece 29 on the retain mg device 29 and a stationary part of the housing 2, as shown in Figure 4. The retaining device 29, after being engaged with the notch in the rod 28, holds the locking device D in an inactive or inoperative position, even though the operator in charge of the elevator car removes the pressure of his foot from the switch 14 and permits the plunger of said switch 14 to move in a direction to open the circuit used to energize the magnet E. While the elevator shaft door is in its open position it is impossible to start the elevator car, due, of course, to the fact that the switch I is effectively held in its open position by the retaining device 29 which also prevents the locking device D from moving back into such a position as to lock the latch C and prevent said latch from moving upwardly when the shaft door is moved back towards its closed position. When the shaft door is restored to its closed position, the cam 1", previously referred to, on the member 1 that is attached to the shaft door, strikes against the head piece 29 of the retaining device 29, thereby moving said retaining device upwardly out of engagement with the slot 30 in the rod 28 and permitting the spring 5 to move the locking device D into its operative position in engagement with the shoulder 6 on the latch C.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an elevator door locking mechanism, the combination of a. shaft door, a latch for said door, an electrically-operated locking device for said latch, a means carried by the elevator car for causing said locking device to become inoperative, a switch in the energizing circuit of the operating mechanism of the car combined with said locking device in such a way that said switch opens when said locking device is rendered. inoperative, and a retaining means that holds said switch open and said locking device in an inoperative position. even though the condition of the energizing circuit of the locking device is changed when the door is in its open position.

2. In an elevator door locking mechanism, the combination of a shaft door, a latch for said door, an electrically-operated locking device for said latch, a means carried by the elevator car for causing said locking device to become inoperative, a switch in the energizing circuit of the operating mechanism of the car combined with said locking device in such a way that said switch opens when said locking device is rendered inoperative, a retaining means that holds said switch open and said locking device in an inoperative position, even though the condition of the energizing circuit of the locking device is changed when the door is in its open position, and means for tripping said retaining means so as to render it inoperative when said door is moved into its closed position.

3. In an elevator door locking mechanism, the combination of a shaft door, a latch for said door, an electrically-operated locking device for said latch, means carried by the elevator car for causing said locking device to become inoperative, a switch in the ener- 'zing circuit of the operating mechanism of t e car comprising an operating member, a '1 connection between said locking device and when the force used to actuate the plunger of the operating member of said switch for the switch is removed therefrom. causing said switch to open when said lock- 7. In an elevator door locking mechanism, ing device is rendered inoperative, and a a shiftable switch operating member on the spring-actuated retaining device arranged so elevator car adapted to co-act with a switch that it will snap into engagement with said past which the car travels, an electro-magnet connection and hold it against movement for moving said switch operating member when said locking device moves into its ininto an operative position, a manually-operoperative position. able switch on the elevator car r'or controlling 4. In an elevator door locking mechanism, said magnet comprising a plunger provided the combination of a shaft door, a latch for with an element that is adapted to engage a said door, an electrically-operated locking contact in the circuit of the magnet, a strikdevice for said latch, means carried by the ing portion on said plunger arranged so as elevator car for causing said locking device to be capable of moving longitudinally relato become inoperative, a switch in the enertively to the plunger, and a plurality of gizing circuit of the operating mechanism of springs combined with said plunger and the car comprising an operating member, a striking portion in such a way that the said connection between said locking device and element on said plunger will be moved sudthe operating member of said switch for denly out of engagement with said contact. causing said switch to open when said lock- FENTON Gr. CHAPIN. ing device is rendered inoperative, a springactuated retaining device arranged so that it will snap into engagement with said connection and hold it against movement when said locking device moves into its inoperative position, and means carried by the shaft door for releasing said connection from said retaining means when said door is moved into its closed position.

5. In an elevator door locking mechanism, a housing mounted inside of the shaft in which the elevator car travels, a latch in said housing adapted to co-act with the shaft door to hold said door closed, a spring-actuated locking device adapted to engage said latch and hold it against movement in a direction to release the door, an electro-magnet in said housing for rendering said locking device inoperative, a switch in said housing arranged in the energizing circuit of the operating mechanism for the elevator car, an operating member forv said switch mounted on said housing, a connection between said locking device and said switch operating member, and a spring-actuated retaining means in said housing adapted to co-act with said connection to hold the locking device in an inoperative position and provided with a portion that projects through the housing and which is adapted to be engaged by a tripping element on the door during the operation 0 7 closing the door.

6. In an elevator door locking mechanism, a shiftable switch operating member on the elevator car adapted to co-act with a switch past which the car travels, an electro-magnet for moving said switch operating member into an operative position, a manually-operable switch on the elevator car for controlling 125 said magnet comprising a plunger provided with an element that is adapted to engage a contact in the circuit of said magnet, and

means for causing said element to be separated from said contact with a quick break 1 0 

